[BMAN]

Here's some footage from the White group this past weekend. This is shot with a SmartyCam and an OBDII interface that picks up the RPM and throttle position. I need to figure out how to get brake pressure too. This is "normal" resolution for the camera; you can choose low, normal or high. The file sizes, even in normal mode, are huge and the upload takes a long time. I went to sleep last night while they were uploading.

I did my best to find a reasonably sized clip that I could upload that showed some Dorki cars.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6f2G9wuoT7g

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6f2G9wuoT7g

A couple laps of open track and then I am chasing the silver 2010 PDK Turbo.

YouTube- Couple of open laps and chasing PDK Turbo

YouTube- Couple of open laps and chasing PDK Turbo

Here's what it sounds like when you break your sway bar in half. Listen towards the end.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZ6uYDCaD08

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZ6uYDCaD08

[Landjet]

I guess the turbo driver was trying to confuse you with all the turn signals.

[savowood]

Is the broken sway bar covered under warranty? It probably broke because you weren't wearing gloves.

I see you cut the video right away. Did you go agro on the right-hander?

Nice driving. Very smooth inputs.

-Michael

[FTS]

You are able to keep your hands in one place now, no more little shuffles

Looking at the place the A/R broke and the lateral g loading (<1), it must have been metal fatigue. I have not come across a bar breaking, the end links, yes, but not the bar. Except in cases where during manufacturing and bending when the bar is not properly cured before bending which creates a week point on the bends. And given that you have relatively high spring rates, it must be a manufacturing fault IMHO.

[BMAN]

Originally Posted by savowood

Is the broken sway bar covered under warranty? It probably broke because you weren't wearing gloves.

I see you cut the video right away. Did you go agro on the right-hander?

Nice driving. Very smooth inputs.

-Michael

Yes, covered by warranty. Here's a blurry cell phone picture.

I took another lap and thought my tires were cooked, so I headed in. Didn't realize it was broken until I loaded the trailer.

Thanks! I've had some good instruction but you know that already

[BMAN]

Originally Posted by FTS

You are able to keep your hands in one place now, no more little shuffles

Looking at the place the A/R broke and the lateral g loading (<1), it must have been metal fatigue.

I just forced myself to stop shuffling and now it feels more natural.

I agree. Not a lot of G's at the time and the curbing is mild, so it think it was stress. Do you think it's possible the bar was weakened to the point were it developed more flex? I had develop a lot of understeer over my last two events and couldn't figure it out.

[HoodPin]

Brian,
I know you've also been DE'ing with NASA for a while. Any "off" that you recall where a curb or stone may have made contact? There's a possibility the bar may have been dinged at some point, creating a weak point that evolved into a bend/fatigue that eventually broke. Gradual handling deterioration makes sense if the bar were gradually bending more & more.

[Landjet]

This is not the first TPC bar that I have heard of breaking. Charley Clark has broken a few of them. Hope mine is from a different batch.

[BMAN]

Originally Posted by AJ986S

Brian,
Any "off" that you recall where a curb or stone may have made contact?

No offs or spins so far. The only curbing I can recall being rough was the bus stop entry at Watkins Glen last June.

I am told these bars, on rare occasion, have broken under high stress. No questions asked, they will replace.

If you fast forward the first video clip to 5:30 you see me running with Brian for awhile. He was fun to chase!

[BMAN]

Originally Posted by Landjet

This is not the first TPC bar that I have heard of breaking. Charley Clark has broken a few of them. Hope mine are from a different batch.

Dr J told me he broke one too; didn't know about Charlie. TPC told me the the manufacturer identified the weakness and addresed the issue last summer/fall. I think they've sold a lot of bars and a large majority haven't had an issue.